I missed the action on 46th Street

 “Embarrassment and awkward situations are not foreign things to me.”

—Paul Rudd

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

I WAS 13 minutes by walk away from the Aretsky’s Patroon restaurant in East Manhattan, where a small group of Filipino American protesters, led by Bayan USA, stormed October 29 evening to oppose Harry Roque’s nomination to the UN International Law Commission (ILC), a body of experts tasked with developing and codifying international law.

I sorely missed the tumult at Aretsky’s. 

The restaurant is on East 46^th Street; I was staying on East 51^st Street.

We are near the United Nations (UN) Headquarters.

On normal days, I passed by the restaurant on my way for a long walk up to the East 81^st Street to visit my favorite electronics store in the Upper East.

New York City was hosting the UN International Law Week. 

Since Roque is a lawyer, he was probably in New York City as a private person; he can’t be using the taxpayers’ money for the trip if the occasion had nothing to do with his job as President Rodrigo Duterte’s chief apologist.

We expect our media colleagues in the Philippines to verify this matter.

 

-o0o-

 

A Facebook “friend” since before joining the Duterte cabinet, Roque was attending a private reception, and the placards-toting protesters called the presidential spokesperson out for his role in the Duterte administration’s brutal war against drugs, which is now under investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes against humanity.

They called him a “war criminal” and “hypocrite” who “failed to uphold international law” for being Mr. Duterte’s “right-hand man.”

If I were Roque, I would ignore the protesters since, as a public official paid by the taxpayers, I had nothing to gain but would have everything to lose if I added fuel to the conflagration.  

But Roque fired back in a statement and lambasted his tormentors who, he said, sought “to deliberately cause harm to innocent people in their attempt to disrupt a private reception we were tendering for representatives of several foreign missions in New York.”

The protesters had belied Roque’s allegations of harm committed on innocent people during the sunset brouhaha.

Roque was terribly in awkward position. 

It was certainly a big embarrassment on his part, especially if he can’t justify his presence in New York City at the expense of the Filipino taxpayers.

 

-o0o-

 

WE are the only city in the world where the next mayor “has been (almost) determined” even before the start of election day.

I’m referring to the election in New York City on November 2, which also includes elections for city council, public advocate, district attorney and other ballot measures.

Since New York City has been known to be a largely Democratic metropolis, Democrat Eric Adams, a Brooklyn borough president, former state legislator and retired New York City Police Department captain, has been penciled to wrap up the mayoral contest against Republican Curtis Sliwa, who was in the hospital as of this writing after being hit by a cab (his supporters swore it was’t a political gimmick).

Adams, 61, had earlier defeated Democratic primary candidates in the city’s first-ever ranked-choice election, and is favored to win the general election.

If elected, Adams will be the city’s second-ever Black mayor.

A radio personality and founder of the controversial Guardian Angels volunteer subway patrol, Sliwa faces difficult odds of winning as the Republican candidate in a city where Democratic voters outnumber Republicans nearly eight to one.

Almost every Filipino American in our community said they would vote for Adams, except our friend, Luis Lomuntad, 64, former President Trump’s most loyal supporter in the Filipino community.

“Magaling yang si Sliwa. Sana siya ang manalo (Sliwa is good. I hope he will win),” Luis told me several nights earlier in Elmhurst.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo—Ed)

 

 

 

 

 

‘Kiss of death’

“A healthy democracy requires a decent society; it requires that we are honorable, generous, tolerant and respectful.”

—Charles W. Pickering

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IF the angry emperor continues to tolerate graft and corruption in his administration, kill or order the police to commit murder in the name of law enforcement, curse and bully people he doesn’t like, including women, his endorsement of the administration candidates would be a “kiss of death.”

No candidate would be blessed in his political career if he was endorsed by a leader who didn’t even spare God from his embarrassing, unprovoked and dangerous curses.

It’s a malas or dimalas (a bad luck).

Basta bastos baba, bastos utok (he who is ill-mannered in his words is ill-mannered in his mind), the late former senator Roding Ganzon once remarked.

Even his own daughter is hesitant to run for the highest office because she must’ve realized that her father is a “heavy baggage” or a liability during the campaign.

He caused the destruction of a once-splendid political party with his interference and power play that pitted party mates against each other in a squalid skirmish. 

He “placed” a bunch of incompetent and suspected clowns in the upper and lower chambers of the legislature and made the Lower House a stamping pad by making the speaker kowtow to his dictatorial wishes.

 

-o0o-

 

In six years, he became known worldwide for sending fears to the hearts of the people with his unconventional iron-fist style that victimized mostly ordinary characters wearing the shorts and slippers.

He corrosively badmouthed enemies and weaklings left and right and received resounding accolades from his fanatics who seemed couldn’t distinguish what is right and wrong, what is legal and illegal, what is presidential and unpresidential behavior.   

To compound the matter, he appeared to have tolerated graft and corruption and defended the thieves and rascals who made billions of pesos at the expense of the taxpayers in various “sweetheart” deals while the people are losing their hopes and their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Filipinos aren’t stupid to endure and tolerate a bad leader for an extended period of time. 

Everything has its limits. Every bad behavior will not only be repudiated but should be dealt with accordingly. 

The right time is on election day.

 

-o0o-

 

THE TUNNEL I FEAR MOST. Untappedcities has just released a feature about Untapped New York, which revealed the 10 secrets of Lincoln Tunnel, the tunnel connecting New York City and New Jersey.

This is the same tunnel I mentioned in my past articles that gave me real goosebumps or the tunnel in the United States that I am so scared to cross since 2015, but, which I couldn’t avoid when I traveled from one state to another.

The article mentioned that the “opening to traffic for the first time in 1937, the Lincoln Tunnel connecting Weehawken, New Jersey to Midtown Manhattan was hailed as the next great engineering triumph.”

The New Deal’s Public Works Administration reportedly provided funds for its construction in 1934, fresh off the success of the northern Holland Tunnel, the first mechanically ventilated underwater automobile tunnel to be built under the Hudson River. 

“A second tube was built shortly after the Lincoln Tunnel’s first, with a third requested due to increasing traffic built in the late ’50s. 

To this day, the three tunnels service hundreds of thousands of cars and buses coming in and out of New York City,” it explained. “Many commuters today write it off as a nuisance, but like many old things in the city, the Lincoln Tunnel has its share of secrets.”

Untapped New York Insiders were invited to a special virtual talk at 12 p.m. on November 23, 2021 with Chief Experience Officer Justin Rivers as he drives them through the secrets and marvels of NYC’s infamous pieces of infrastructure.  

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo.—Ed)

Would Defensor and Treñas endorse Robredo without Drilon?

 “We would all like to vote for the best man but he is never a candidate.”

—Kin Hubbard

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

UNLIKE Iloilo Governor Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. and Iloilo City Mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Treñas, most local government unit (LGU) chief executives in the country still haven’t revealed their choices for president and vice president in the May 9, 2022 Philippine election.

Out of respect or fear for President Rodrigo Duterte, many of these LGU chief executives must be thinking “it’s still premature” to declare their preferences until after the final substitution of candidates on November 15.

Despite her repeated denials, there are still speculations that Duterte’s daughter, Sara Carpio, mayor of Davao City, will run for vice president under standard bearer, former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., in the eleventh hour.

This gives some LGU chief executives the jitters.

If some of them will be in a hurry to endorse presidential candidates other than (or without waiting for the possible) Marcos-Carpio tandem, they might “earn Malacanang’s ire” and lose the pelfs and privileges during the campaign period. 

Like in the previous elections in the Philippines, incumbent governors and mayors who supported the administration candidates always received favors or special treatment for their “cooperation and loyalty.”

 

-o0o-

 

Because of their relationship with opposition senator Franklin “Frank” Drilon, among other obvious reasons, Malacanang wouldn’t be surprised that Treñas and Defensor endorsed Vice President Leni Robredo.

Other than their personal friendship with Robredo (both Defensor and Treñas were the vice president’s former colleagues in the House of Representatives), Western Visayas has been known traditionally to be the bailiwick—but not the exclusive turf—of the opposition.

There were other possible principal factors why Defensor and Treñas couldn’t support Marcos aside from Drilon: Defensor’s father, former Governor Arthur “Art” Sr., was a key opposition stalwart as assemblyman in the defunct Batasang Pambansa when Bongbong’s late father, Ferdinand Sr., was president. 

Treñas’ late father, Efrain, was one of the country’s most respected and highly touted constitutional commissioners, who detested the strongman’s Martial Law rule in the 70’s.

Drilon’s involvement can only be accidental in the scenario. 

Even without the flamboyant senator from Molo district in Iloilo City, Treñas and Defensor would most certainly still be endorsing Robredo.

 

-o0o-

 

AS we all feared since two months ago, Andrew Cuomo, former New York governor, has been charged with a misdemeanor sex crime for allegedly groping a woman at the state's Executive Mansion last year.

It was reported that Lucian Chalfen, a spokesman for the state court system, has confirmed a misdemeanor complaint had been filed against Cuomo in a "sex crime" case in Albany City Court.

The complaint from the Albany County Sheriff's Office reportedly alleged that Cuomo committed the misdemeanor act of forcible touching at his official residence on the afternoon of Dec. 7 last year, between 3:51 p.m. and 4:07 p.m.

"At the aforesaid date time and location the defendant Andrew M. Cuomo did intentionally, and for no legitimate purpose, forcibly place his hand under the blouse shirt of the victim [redacted] and into her intimate body part. Specifically, the victims (sic) left breast for the purposes of degrading and gratifying his sexual desires, all contrary to the provisions of the statute in such case made and provided," read the complaint.

The complaint reportedly cited evidence including cell phone records, state Capitol swipes, state police records and text messages from Cuomo's cell phone, while also pointing to some findings listed in New York Attorney General Letitia James' report, released Aug. 3 o a week before Cuomo announced he would be resigning.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo—Ed)

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

Why I avoid politicians

 

“True independence and freedom can only exist in doing what's right.”

—Brigham Young

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

A TRUE media “fiscalizer” committed to mirroring the truth and acting as vanguard of democracy should limit himself—if not refrain—from associating with politicians, police and military officials with the inclination to abuse their power and commit shenanigans.

Or politicians, police and military officials with bad reputations and shady background, especially the underworld characters.

It’s not bad to befriend some of them as they can be our rich sources of news and other relevant information.

But we, members of the Fourth Estate, must sometimes learn how to draw the lines. 

Our independence and integrity are crucial and paramount especially when we criticize erring public officials and scalawags in military and police uniform. 

If we live in a house of glass, it’s risky to cast the (first and last) stone. 

If we are beholden to the subjects of our news, either because we have developed a close relationship or have asked favors from them or both, we can’t be an effective or credible sentinel or paragon of social change.

I avoid, or try to avoid, politicians and men in uniform because I don’t want to compromise my profession. 

I’ll be both ashamed and guilty if I can’t criticize and expose corrupt public officials or bad eggs in police and military because “they are my friends”, or “I have partied with them and joined them in drinking sessions and other private activities.” 

 

-o0o-

  

WHEN Iloilo and Guimaras politicians arrived in New York City during the 2017 Philippine Independence Day Parade, I tried to avoid them.

They were a city mayor, city councilors, a congresswoman, a governor, a vice governor, board members, among other “unreliable” characters who draw salary from the taxpayers.

My reason was simple: I didn’t want to be associated with them; I didn’t want to be their “friend.” Loud and clear.

A “hi” and “hello” or “good morning” and “good afternoon” were enough. 

No tete-a-tete over a cup of coffee or tea. No nothing.

I avoided the photo sessions in the programs I attended in the Philippine Consulate General New York where there were politicians. Fellow journalists Herbert Vego, Regine Algecera, Tara Yap, Florence Hibionada, who were with the delegation, must have noticed it.

Way back in the Philippines where I was an active community journalist for over 30 years, I seldom befriended politicians; but I “worked” with a few of them on a case to case basis in the early 90’s.

 

-o0o-

 

Over the years, I developed secret but personal friendships with only a few: Jesry Palmares (former Passi City mayor), Rolly Distura (former Dumangas mayor and now a board member), Alex Centena (former Calinog mayor), the late former vice governor Bugoy Molejona, former elected vice governor and DILG sworn-in governor Obet Armada. 

My relationship with Jesry was more on sports. We traveled together outside Iloilo and dined with sports patrons in as far as Cebu; we never discussed politics.

Every time former First Gentleman Mike Arroyo wanted to talk to me or meet me, he contacted Jesry, who contacted me.

Rolly, an engineer, was my friend even before he became mayor of Dumangas. This was when he worked for the late former Iloilo fourth district Rep. Narcing Monfort. 

In the last 20 years, I met him only for at least three times, but Engr. Distura, a man of character and integrity, is one of the only few Iloilo public servants I truly hold in high esteem.

Tokayo Alex and I knew each other in the 80’s when he wasn’t yet a politician. We always met and shared meals in the house of his future wife in Calinog and he would drive me to the bus terminal when I went back to Iloilo City.   

Bugoy, who died in 2015, was one of my model public servants. 

I was a capitol beat reporter when he became a board member in 1988. He had served briefly as OIC governor and subsequently as Iloilo Sports Complex administrator when Iloilo hosted the 1991 Palarong Pambansa.

Obet and I met when he worked with former Board Member Bob Maroma in the early 90’s. 

We weren’t close, but he was someone who believed in me, thus when he was elected as vice governor in 2001, he invited me to join his staff. 

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo—Ed)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Feeling genius

 “Nobody really knows what they're doing. Some are just better at pretending like they do.”

—Kumail Nanjiani

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THE easiest way for the candidates in the May 9, 2022 Philippine election to attract the voters’ attention during the campaign period is to act naturally and refrain from borrowing the identities of others.

There’s no substitute for being original and natural.

Frankness and being down to earth will certainly give the candidates enormous latitude to gather random admirers and a substantial number of votes.

We must not underestimate the voters’ intelligence and capacity to discern in this TikTok generation.

The dizzying technology plus the advent of social media has enabled some voters to familiarize some candidates and scrutinize their characteristics even before they could shake their hands. 

Not all voters are ignorants or idiots who can be swayed for a piece of P500 or P1,000 bill.

Not all voters can be mesmerized into believing overnight that the candidates possess the I.Q. of Einstein or JFK.

We say act and express naturally and not to impress vigorously because so many candidates at this stage of the election season are already falling into this trap: they wanted to appear like geniuses when they speak even if not necessary.

 

-o0o-

 

We noticed at least two candidates in the presidential race who appeared to have been bitten by the “feeling genius” bug. 

They may not have realized it, but the theatrical performances of Isko Moreno of the Aksyon Demokratiko and Manny Pacquiao of the PDP-Laban in their recent interviews were unimpressive if not a downright disaster.

In their recent separate video or TV appearances, both presidential aspirants displayed strange mannerisms and bizarre body and facial languages we did not see in their past media interviews while driving a point.

They also talked a lot than necessary; they elucidated too much on topic about the economy even without being pressed by the interviewers.  

When they couldn’t organize their words, they explained in staccato and their eyes betrayed the agonizing thoughts trying to piece together missing sentences.

 

-o0o- 

 

The voters, or the audience, not used to knowing Moreno’s and Pacquiao’s “expertise” on the subject matter, could easily spot the chaff from the grain, or which is the puwit ng baso and the genuine diamond.

In other words, it’s scripted—or they (hardly) memorized what he had to say in the interviews.

And they will have to grapple with more interviews, debates, on the spot Q and A matches as the campaign period progresses.

They probably wanted to impress the televiewers that they have cosmic or boundless knowledge about tax reforms and the thorny economic issues nationally and globally, which actually wasn’t necessary if they intended only to be remembered by the voters seven months from now.

The voters are no longer passive and apathetic on this main deformity possessed by many candidates.  

No one would instantly believe they have suddenly become authoritative and scholarly on the issues they laboriously tackled. 

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo—Ed)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Magic of medicine

"Therefore the most effective way of preventing mental illness is to remove causes of worry and tension, to explain the effects of such emotions to people who suffer from them, and to educate people in general to accept themselves and their lives as they are."

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

The Theory of the Four Humours was introduced by the father of medicine, Hippocrates, thousands of years ago–before Christianity, Judaism, and Islam became dominant monotheistic religions.

The Greek doctor, best remembered for his so-called “Hippocratic Oath”, believed that the secret of health lay in the proper mixture of four body fluids, blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile. 

If the wrong mixture was present, disease resulted.

That during the Middle Ages, disease was attributed to devils which were supposed to have entered the body and which could be forced to leave by spells and incantations.

Earlier, in 100 B.C., immunity from disease was already being practiced. 

King Mithridates tried to protect his body against certain poisons by taking increasing doses of them over a period of time. 

In China and India, children were clothed in the shirts, or slept in the bed, of smallpox sufferers. 

Although dangerous, this often produced very mild attacks of the disease and prevented future occurrence of more severe cases.

In the 14th century, more than 25 million people died of bubonic plague in Europe. 

In the 18th century, smallpox killed 60 million people throughout the world. Statistics reveals that even today over 100 million people a year have malaria in India and that about one million die of it annually.

 

MENTAL HYGIENE

 

Just as physical hygiene attempts to promote physical health, so does the newer science of mental hygiene attempt to promote mental health.

Here’s for those who carry the world on their shoulders; Atlas Shrugged, in the book of Ayn Rand. 

Most authorities agree that among the chief causes of mental disease are worry, fear, unhappiness, and envy (Facebook and other social network users, take note).

They point out that all of us are subject to these emotions, but that some people are so sensitive to one or more of these that their entire outlook on life is thrown out of focus.

Therefore the most effective way of preventing mental illness is to remove causes of worry and tension, to explain the effects of such emotions to people who suffer from them, and to educate people in general to accept themselves and their lives as they are.

Mental disease often shows itself as an unreasoning fear of certain situations, or an involuntary “compulsion” to perform certain acts. (Phobia, neurosis, and psychosis are some of the terms used to name these conditions, according to Alexander A. Fried of the Department of Biological Sciences, Christopher Columbus High School in New York).

These abnormal reactions may be so mild as to cause very little inconvenience to the individual, or may be so violent as to make the person dangerous to himself or others and require commitment to an institution for special care.

 

PSYCHOSOMATIC

 

Mysterious relationships exist between the mind and the body, according to some medical experts. 

It is now known that mental illness can produce symptoms of physical disease in many organs of the body, when actually the organ affected is healthy and sound.

Headaches, upset stomachs, fever, vague pains, rashes, etc., may be signs of a known disease, or may be the effect of mental upset, doctors say. 

They add that in the second case, where the symptoms are brought about by the mind, it is called a psychosomatic illness.

Many phobias and neurotic conditions have been traced to forgotten incidents in childhood, which continue to influence behavior even though the sufferer has no recollection of the event.

Methods of treatment aim at finding these causes in the patient’s “subconscious” and revealing them to him; usually the condition disappears once the patient understands its cause. 

Various types of psychiatric treatment (analysis) have been proposed and used by different psychiatrists; these different methods have the same general goal of finding and removing the cause from the patient’s mind.

 

RULES

 

The following rules are useful in keeping mentally healthy, according to Fried:

1. Get plenty of rest, relaxation, fresh air, and good food.

2. Avoid worrying excessively. Most things that people worry about seldom happen.

3. Face your problems squarely, realistically. Be ready to make changes and adjustments in your plans to meet new situations that arise.

4. Use up some of your excess energy and strength in interesting hobbies, sports, and other types of recreation.

5. Do not magnify unimportant happenings into major events. Example: The fact that your friend didn’t smile and wave at you when he passed by was probably because he didn’t see you, not because he was angry at you.

6. Seek satisfaction from those things you do well, and from those natural advantages which you possess (we all have some). Do not yearn for things that are possible only in daydreams. Do not envy others who seem to have more than you; they are probably envying you from “their side of the fence.”

7. Set yourself a goal–certainly! But make sure that it is a realistic one–one that is within the reach of your abilities.

Substitution poster boy

“Attachment is the great fabricator of illusions; reality can be attained only by someone who is detached.”

—Simone Weil

 

By Alex P Vidal

 

EACH time the uproar on election substitution was brought up in any discussion, the name of Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa would always immediately surface.

It’s so unfortunate for Dela Rosa that his reputation has been attached and associated with the election substitution controversy even before it happens. 

Is this the price for being “beholden” to an angry emperor?

Assuming that Dela Rosa really wanted to shoot for the presidency of the Philippines, everything he does or says now is lacking credibility; people always think he is only playing a footsie.

In other words, Dela Rosa is not being taken seriously, at least by those who are keen political observers. 

Since his candidacy for president did not pass through the fair and traditional PDP-Laban party convention, we doubt if other party members—the originals and serious ones—are comfortable with Dela Rosa as their standard bearer.  

These originals and serious party members aren’t stupid lock, stock, and barrel to believe that Dela Rosa is the party’s only most qualified or best bet for the presidency.   

 

-o0o-

 

Aside from the issue of winnability, the party members’ primordial concern must be credibility.

If a candidate isn’t winnable, party members will have a low morale; there will be a reduction in productivity and mass support.

If he isn’t credible, party members will think they are only being taken for a ride as the decision to field the “quack” didn’t come from among their ranks, but probably from one influential and powerful person who doesn’t give a hoot if the PDP-Laban will end up in tatters because of his dictatorial interference on this serious matter.

On the other hand, if nobody would be willing to substitute for Dela Rosa “according to plans” on or before November 15 as permitted by the Commission on Election (Comelec), he will be obligated to sustain the joy ride until the final reckoning.

In order to please and serve a beloved and feared emperor, the likes of Dela Rosa are willing to put their reputations at risk even if in the long run they will be thrown under the bus.

 

-o0o-

 

We don’t blame the media propagandists of certain politicians if they create a stir and fabricate stories against the rivals of their masters (read: those who bankroll their “blocktime” programs or sponsor their payola during the election season).

They are only doing their job.

They have no hidden motives other than “fulfilling an obligation” for the hatchet job.

We are so familiar with the system. Some underpaid or underemployed media workers will have the opportunity to hit a paydirt if their talents or “professional services” are tapped for the dirty task during the poll season.

For instance, it’s “part” of their job to collude with “eyewitnesses” who will claim they were paid to attend a certain political rally or caravan.

Any success and whatever positive media milage generated by the rally or (the recent pink) caravan may now be tainted by the false “testimony” of these false witnesses abetted, of course, by the propagandists.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo—Ed)

 

 

   

‘Strange bedfellows’ no more

 “Turn on to politics, or politics will turn on you.”

—Ralph Nader

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IT’S understandable for Iloilo Governor Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. and Vice Governor Christine Garin to unite under one political roof for their reelection bid in the May 9, 2022 local election. 

In politics, it’s called a “strange bedfellows.”

They have no choice. 

The union should be for the benefit of Iloilo province, not for any political party or padrino.

Aside from a weak opposition, there are no other viable candidates for governor who can mount a serious challenge against the incumbent.  

Defensor’s first term practically was spent mostly during the nightmarish pandemic, thus the sordid situation has helped him make a good account of himself as a “performer.”

During the pandemic, Ilonggos had no time to dabble in politics as they grappled with the colossal economic gloom to survive.

There were no controversies and exposes in the media and in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan. 

Everybody was busy making both ends meet and dodging the COVID-19.

Defensor had an easy home run.

 

-o0o-

  

THERE are candidates in the Philippine election who firmly believe their chances of winning hinges on how effective the trolls or social media flamethrowers they hired not primarily to deodorize their image, but specifically to destroy their political rivals.

Never mind if their platform of government, their plans and programs will be muted or set aside during the campaign, the most important is their trolls or social media flamethrowers will succeed in zeroing in on the “sins” of their political opponents.

In most cases, these “sins” of their rivals are fabricated or scripted in order to justify their vilification and south of the border offensive. 

The fad in the social media where these trolls or mercenaries thrive is to destroy, destroy, and destroy rather than to promote, to educate, and to explain.

The main goal is confusion and mayhem. 

Once their political opponents are dropped on all fours and crippled by the incessant and brutal attacks by the trolls and social media flamethrowers, candidates who hired these trolls and social media flamethrowers will think it may no longer be necessary to buy votes. 

The candidates are aware of the social media’s awesome power to influence, brainwash, and destroy.

 

-o0o-

 

Thus the social media nowadays is becoming uglier, dirtier, bloodier with all the morbid accusations, innuendos and half truths flying thick and fast “live” and “shared” multiple times.

Radio stations don’t have anymore the monopoly of “blocktime” political programs; they used to rake in millions of pesos in revenues derived from political “blocktime” programs.

Today, social media is giving the mainstream radio stations a run for their money during the political season.

Any Facebook, Twitter or TikTok user can earn money by selling their accounts to politicians to slander and torment political opponents.

Before the advent of social media, candidates competed for the voters’ attention through competence, qualifications, programs, intellectual prowess, sincerity, character, spirituality, values through the mainstream media.

Today, some of the moneyed candidates’ primordial priority is to bankroll a large amount from their campaign funds to finance and sustain their trolls and social media flamethrowers.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo—Ed)  

I did not endorse Manny Pacquiao

 

 “I'm not exactly the endorsement people are seeking.”

—Jack Abramoff

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

SOME of our friends misinterpreted the recent article I wrote entitled “Ingrato”, where I criticized Chavit Singson and Jayke Joson, two of Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao’s former bosom friends who turned his enemies, to be an endorsement of his presidential bid in the Philippine election on May 9, 2022.

One of them is Las Vegas-based Republican party factotum Raleigh, who ribbed me: “Didn’t I inform you only in August that Pacquiao’s campaign team was hard-pressed to raise funds for his candidacy here in Vegas because he’s hard to sell in the Pinoy community? And you are now endorsing him?”

“Your endorsement of Pacquiao means you have become his fanatic outside boxing?” bewailed a Sacramento-based Trump loyalist who fled the Philippines in 2001 as a political refugee.  

I never endorsed Pacquiao for president in that article. 

I wrote the article only to defend him from ingrates who badmouthed him because he was no longer active in boxing (and isn’t anymore a lucrative prizefighter); and it happened when he is running for president against the administration candidate.

I needed to express my own point of view as a moral obligation because I know both Singson and Joson benefited a lot from Pacquiao during the retired boxer’s heydays, and I thought they should be the last persons to mimic Cassius and Brutus when push comes to shove. 

 

-o0o-

 

I made it clear from the beginning or since rumors made the rounds that Pacquiao was eyeing the presidency of the Philippines (that was way back in 2008 when he was still active in professional boxing) that I was against Pacquiao as a boxing icon joining the dirty world of politics.

That stand still holds until today.

I have covered the retired boxer’s biggest fights in the United States since 2007 and met some of the most prominent and controversial characters who surrounded and bilked him, including some Good Samaritans whose intentions were purely to provide him moral and spiritual support and nothing else.

Some of them also became my good friends; in fact, many Team Pacquiao insiders became my sympathizers and even supporters during the turbulent moments of my legal tiff against Freddie Roach in California 12 years ago.

I was prompted to expose Singson and Joson in my recent article after watching their videos on Youtube where they separately impeached the former boxer’s reputation at the time when their former benefactor needed a moral support as a presidential timber, now being poleaxed by political tormentors in the mainstream and social media.

I thought it was inappropriate for the two to abandon a friend “when he needed them most” and to humiliate Pacquiao in public without taking into consideration their past joyful moments where they once literally ate on Pacquiao’s plates and benefited politically and financially from the former boxer’s popularity.

I just couldn’t keep silent.

 

-o0o-

 

AFTER Iloilo City mayor Geronimo “Jerry” Trenas, we expect Iloilo governor Arthur “Toto” Defensor Jr. to follow suit in the endorsement of Vice President Leni Robredo for president in the May 9, 2022 election.

It’s not really difficult to read between the lines. 

When it comes to decency, straight shooting and intelligent choices, we can always count on the Ilonggo leaders.

This is very possible judging from the recent statement made by former Iloilo governor, Arthur “Art” Sr., who expressed displeasure that the election law allows the last-minute substitution tactic, which is being exploited and employed by other political parties that field presidential aspirants.

We know which political party or camp has been a consistent advocate of last-minute substitution.  

We know who are the political allies of Robredo supporter, Senator Franklin “Frank” Drilon, in the city and province of Iloilo.

If this will materialize, Robredo and her pink phenomenon will be a force to reckon with in Western Visayas, not Bongbong Marcos.

We also expect the other Ilonggo constellation, the Bacolod and Negros electorate across the sea, to join forces with the solid Iloilo.

History is being made.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two dailies in Iloilo—Ed)